So how do you all like the new age change? Our team was effected this year. We now have a 13yo playing on our 11-12 Dixie Ozone team (5/1 B-day). Not that I mind at all since he is on our team but we sure do get the questions and angry parent comments.

I guess the "biggest" problem is that he is 6'1" tall and throws a FB at 75mph (last Stalker reading). Even with 70' base paths and 50' mound, the fields are really too small for him. I can't imagine what he would look like from 46'! Yikes!!

Sheesh....I thought my son was pretty good sized!

I like it so far. I think it makes teams better but maybe that's just my perception from the teams we've faced so far.

What good does it do for the kid who is 6'1"? Not a big fan of the change but nothing I can do about it.

I know with my son's July birthday, in the past he would usually be the youngest player on his team. What is the best baseball birthday now?
Fungo

I am in favor of it. It allows the kids who should be playing with their grade group to play with them for once if they were born during the summer. Mine is 6'1" 13 year old who is finally able to play with his group.

Redbird

Dixie does not allow playing up so this boy has to play at this level. We really focus on fundamentals so he isn't missing that aspect of the game, but I believe that he would benefit playing on bigger fields. I also fear that some kid is going to get seriously hurt when he steps up to the plate. There have been several near misses of firstbasemen when he pulls the ball and there is no time to react. He absolutely CRUSHES a baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
What is the best baseball birthday now?
Fungo

Instead of the August 1 cut off it got moved back to May 1.

I am indifferent on the age change. I don't understand the comment that he will play with his grade, from what I have noticed it has had reverse effect and players are playing with kids a grade below them.

What really shocks me is that a 6 foot boy is playing at 70' basepaths and 50' mounds. My son is 13 and is playing at 80' base paths and 55' mounds for his regular league and full size fields for tournaments. I don't think a kid has much of a chance hitting a 75 mph fastball at 50'.

OK...I saw the difference in the Battle in the South 12U tourney. Some of these kids are HUGE. I don't see the benefit of a 6'+ kid playing travel ball against kids who are 5'3". It just doesn't make any sense.

It's allowed more kids to basically play down. If a 12 yr old pitcher throws 75, is it really helping him learn to pitch by throwing against other 12 yr olds? I suspect he'd be better off playing up a year or two and really learning that throwing gas can only get you so far. It will make him a better pitcher down the road by actually having to make pitches.

Jon

I agree with BC33, it would have forced my son to play with kids in a grade below. As Callaway stated Dixie will not let you play up so we elected not to play. All my son's friends are playing 13/14 and he has no where to play.
After playing 60/90 going back to 46/60 made no sense. It is too bad for the kids who fell in the gap.

goingyard

The one positive thing that Dixie did this year was to rollout "Ozone". It replaced Majors in our area so that 11/12yos play on 50/70 with true baseball rules (leadoffs,, balks, etc.). That brought back many of the USSSA/AAU players. Rec ball still doesn't compare to travel ball but we are going to have one STOUT Dixie All Star team.